Controlling-gear for automobiles.



PATENTED DEG. 29, 1903.

s. J. ANDERSON. CONTROLLING GEAR EOE AUTOMOBILES.

APPLIOATION FILED APR. 27. 1903.

no MODEL.

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, Patented 'Decemher 29,1908.

PATENT OFFLCE.

svENf J. ANDERSON, or WINCHESTER, MASSACHUSETTS.

CONTROLLING-GEAR FOR AUTOMOBILES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 748,252, dated December Application filed April 27.1903. seen No- 155386. on ma.)

To allwhom it-may concern: Be it known that I, Sven J. ANDERSON, of Winchester, in the county of Middlesex and State 0t Massach usetts,have in vented certain newvand useful Improvements in Controlling Gear for Automobiles, of whichthe following is a specification. I

This invention relates to the handle per-- tions of steering'or other controlling gear. for automobiles and other like vehicles; and it has for its object to enable the upper or handl'e portion of 'a steering or other controlling membento be firmly supported at any angle or position which the convenienceof theoperator may require. V

The invention consists in the im provements which I will now proceed to describe and claim.

Of the accompanyingdrawings, forming a part of this specification',Figure lrepresents a side elevation ofla carriage having ajoin'tedbearing on support containing a jointed steermg member, all constructed in accordance I with my invention. 2 represents an elevation of said bearing and a partof the post from adifierent point of view. Fig-'3 represents a section on line 3 3 of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 represents a section online 4 4' of Fig. 3.

The same reference characters indicate the same parts in all the figures.

In the drawings, a and a represent areasing or bearing to supportand-prevenhthe rotation of the steering-post of a steering. mechanism, the said casing or hearing being made in two parts or sections. a is affixed rigidly to the vehicle and is provided with a member of a universal join't, said member, as here shown, being an ap-' proximately spherical enlargementor ball a, formed on the upper portion of the section a, said ball being hollqw. The section a isprovided at itslower end with a complemental universal-joint member, here shown as a' socket a? formed to fit and turn freely in any direction '11 pon the ball member, the said socket being split to render it compressible and provided with ears or lugs a, located at opposite sides of the split and provided with a clamping or binding screw 1), engaged with one of said ears, which is internally threaded, said screw having a shoulder 1) bearing tions.

The section] on the other ear. The screw 11 is adapted to tighten the socket member and lock it by friction 'to the ball member in various posi- The mbvable section a of the bearing istherefore adaptedto stand at any angle which the convenience of the operator may require and to be locked in any of the positions tO.'Whl(.'h it may be adjusted.

The steering member is composed of two parts, a stationariiy-j onrnaled section 0 and aswinging section or post o". is journaled in the fixed section a of the bearing, While the section 0 is journaled in the movable bearing-section a. The sections 0 The sectioneand c are provided with universal joint coupling or con nectin g members located within the hollow ball member a the said members being here shown as comprising an.or--

dinary gimbal-joint composed of a'pair of ears 0*, aflixed tothe section a, another pair of ears, a aflixed to the section cf, and suitable .connectio'nsbetween said ears, the ar vrangement being such that motion can-'be transmitted from the section 0' to the section 6 in any of the positions to which thesection c can be adjusted.

It will be seen that the gimbal-jfiint an.

nection between the sections of the steering I member enables the upper portion or post o to be adjusted with the upper sectionfa of the hearing.

The lower section 0 of the steering member is provided with suitable means, such as a worm' e, for imparting motion to other parts of the steering gear or mechanism.

I disclaim as of my invention the broad idea of a swinging or universally-steering or other controlling post in an automobile pro vided with means having'an adjustable con nection with the post-for supporting it against such movement.

11 claim- 1. In a vehicle, the combination of a con- .trollingpost mounted f6r universal swinging movement and rotary operating movement,

frictional locking means in continuous con- 'nection therewith for supporting said post against, such movement, and vehicle-controlling mechanism actuated by the rotary movement of said post. V

2. In a vehicle, the combination of a controlling-post having a rotary'or twisting controlling movement and a universal swinging movement, frictional locking means in con- 7 tlnuous connection therewith for supporting said post againstsaid universal movement, and connections for transmitting the rotary movement ofsaid post to zthe'vehicle-controlling mechanism.

. lingmechanismactuated by the rotary movet- IQ nraPvehicle, the combination of a controlling-post mounted for aswingi'n'g adjusti ing movement and arotamy-operating movei -1'g-a'continuous action onmenh, 51 a". said-postfor' holding it in different angular positions within its range of swinging movement, said means being capable of having its holding. action overcome by the exertion of force to swing the post, and vehicle-controlment of said post. 7

'4. In-a vehicle, the combination of a controlling-post mounted for a swinging adjusting movement and a rotary operating movement, coacting frictional sliding surfaces exerting a uniform holding action in a plurality ofdifierent indeterminate angular positions Within the range of swinging movement 'of the post for holding the latter in said positions, and vehicle-controlling mechanism ac tuated bythe rotary movement of said post.

5. In a vehicle, the combination of a controlling-post mounted for universal swinging movement, and coacting spherical frictional locking-surfaces curved in a radius coinciding with the center of swinging movement of said post forsupporting the latter against such movement. l

6. An automobile-controlling mechanism comprising a jointed casing or bearing composed of a fixed section and a movable section, said sections being provided with univessse' versa1-joint coupling or connecting members, and a. jointed vehicle-controlling member rotatable in said bearing and composed of two sections also provided with universal-joint coupling or connecting members located within the coupling members of the bearing.

I 7. An automobile controlling mechanism comprising a jointed casing or bearing composed of. a fi'xed section and a movable section, said sections being provided with uniposed of a fixed section having a ball coupling member and a movable section having a compressible socket coupling member engaged with'thesaid bal'l member, said socket member being provided with a binding or compressing screw, and a jointed vehiclecontrolling member rotatable in said bearing and composed of twosections also provided with universal-joint coupling or connecting members located within the said ball coupling member.

In testimony whereof I'have afiixed my signature in presenceof two witnesses.

, a SVEN J. ANDERSON.

- Witnesses:

O. F. BROWN, E. BATOHELDER. 

